magistrate

SCLsomeone, not usually a lawyer, who works as a judge in a local court of law, dealing with less serious crimes [= Justice of the Peace]

WORD FOCUS: court WORD FOCUS: court people in a court of law:judge, magistrate, jury, defenceBritish English/defenseAmerican English, prosecution, defendant, witness, attorney, lawyer, barristerBritish English, solicitorBritish English, district attorneyAmerican Englishwhat happens in a court case:At the beginning of the trial, the person who is accusedpleads guiltyornot guiltyto thechargesagainst them. The lawyers for the prosecution try toprovethat the defendant is guilty, and the lawyers for the defence try to prove that their client is innocent. The judge and the juryexamine the evidenceand listen to thetestimonyof the witnesses. At the end of the trial, the judge thensums upthe case, and the jury thengives their verdict. If the person isfound guilty, the judgesentencesthem to a period of time in prison, or orders them to pay afine. If the person isfound not guilty, they arereleased.court➔ See alsocourt

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Advanced Learner's Dictionary.